This week, one of the busiest airports in the region came to a complete halt, sending ripple effects from Bangkok across the world. Nepal was also affected. Kathmandu airport is connected to Bangkok with 14 flights a week with a total of 8,000 passengers both ways. Tourists passing through Bangkok were stranded in Kathmandu, while Nepalis were stuck in Bangkok.

Sources at Thai International said they expected international flights to resume from Bangkok's two airports from Thursday evening, but it would take a week to clear the backlog and for flights to return to normal.

"Thai Airways is one of the top three airlines that bring in tourists to Nepal," says Sharad Pradhan of Nepal Tourism Board, "The Thai airport's closure has greatly affected our tourism industry."

Thai Airways has 10 flights scheduled per week, three of which were recently added. Nepal Airlines' four flights a week to Bangkok have also been cancelled for a week. Bangkok is the key transit point for tourists that come to Nepal from the US, Japan, Australia and Europe.

"This has been a difficult time. Our clients have been forced to come through Delhi or Doha," says Bishnu Prasai of Natraj Travels. "Many of the travellers have been stuck here because the alternate flight routes are packed and getting a seat is almost impossible."

Surprisingly, Kathmandu's hoteliers were more upbeat. "Our occupancy has not changed significantly," says Mohan Khanal of Hotel Shangri-la, "some of our clients are actually staying longer because of unavailability of flights."

"We have not received big cancellations as such," echoes Surendra Thakuri of Yak & Yeti. The impact of the closure may have been offset because December marks the end of the peak tourist season.

However, industry sources warned of cancelled Christmas and New Year bookings and long-term impact on travel in Asia because of the Mumbai attacks and the Bangkok airport closure.

Paavan Mathema

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